Serbian Deputy Minister for Diaspora Aleksandar Cotric announced today that the census of diaspora should begin in January and last until June 30, 2006, including the processing, analysis and presentation of the data obtained.
Author:
Tanjug
Speaking at a session of the Serbian parliament's Committee for Relations with Serbs outside Serbia, Cotric said that migration of Serbs has existed for approximately 200 years and that the exact number of Serbian citizens and those of Serbian nationality living abroad has never been established.
According to the latest census conducted in Serbia in 2002, there are 414,000 Serbian citizens living abroad, which according to estimates of the Serbian Statistical Office and institutions dealing with diaspora's affairs does not reflect the real situation. Estimates range anywhere from between two to four million Serbian citizens living abroad.